Being a race promoter...

If you run a good program and the racing is good the drivers and fans will be back to support the track. Yes people will usually show up for a big race but, a weekly show is a different story. Like others have said buy a track and run it the way you see fit.
 
Ive always wondered why so many race tracks don't better utilize their biggest asset. The land.
Being open for business one night a week for 20 weeks yet paying a mortgage payment every month.
 
No racing saturday night at any local STL track, holiday weekend, Sunday night nobody else is racing, and a $10.000 to win show. Of course the Tri City is going to be pack. They had some big dogs in town and people come out to see them race.
 
moonflow said:
I've already pretty much had my fill of I-55's BS calls this year. What is the sense in having a racetrack dang near in my back yard if they cancel every time a dark cloud goes overhead? Drivers too are out more, if they want to run, having to haul to Highland or another track. I-55 Raceway is commiting slow suicide, and the ones who recognize it and complain are persecuted like a Protestant during the Crusades.
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We drive an hour to race for race fans that they have told us thanks for there enjoyment. We work 2 nights a week after work getting car set up and we have an ass complain that he can not go and be entertained
 
50Dixonfan said:
No racing saturday night at any local STL track, holiday weekend, Sunday night nobody else is racing, and a $10.000 to win show. Of course the Tri City is going to be pack. They had some big dogs in town and people come out to see them race.
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Valid points...but i55 would have been the only track running and they also had a special show with sprints.

There is more to poor attendance than fans that can look at radar and see a chance of rain.

And I'm not going to buy a track and run it. I went the other route and bought a race car where there is no chane of making money..ever. Haha.
 
TheBigWheel said:
...are persecuted like a Protestant during the Crusades. (Moonflow) There were no protestants during the crusades (1000c to 1300c) they did not come into being until the 1500c. Of course there was a lot of bloodshed to come...
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Yeah, but you got the idea.
 
Yeah, but you got the idea. (moonflow)

Yes, I picked up on your point... my college history minor kicked in on the Crusades comment, sorry!

I-55 is quick to pull the trigger on calling the show. But factor in that the MOWA sprints would be long distance tows to the track. The track errors on the side of saving these cats the expense of towing for nothing. The sprints added to the regular show is a great added bonus, not often you can see sprints and LM, mods, etc. together. Plus I had my Vet card ready to go. Hope I-55 tries the combo show again.
 
thefarmer said:
Tri-City has multimillionaire real estate tycoon Gordon Gundaker to fall back on if they take a hit ...
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FLOL, not like I-55 doesn't have some disposable cash backing it!!!

Here's the trick to I-55. You all say that when a track cancels early, they lose money. Tell me exactly how much money I-55 Raceway lost this past Saturday.

-Didn't have to turn on the lights
-Didn't have to pay officials
-Didn't have to prep food
-Didn't have to prep bathrooms
-Didn't have to clean up the stands after the race
-Didn't have to empty garbage after the race
-Didn't have to blade the track and get it ready for next weekend

So all the overhead costs are gone for that weekend. And they don't have a lease to meet. I do not know if they have a note on the property, but if they do, the only thing they have to worry about is the mortgage on the property, and the taxes.

Point is, I-55 may not have made money for the weekend, but they didn't LOSE that much either. And why take a risk of losing a race to weather and not having many people in the stands, when you can just cancel, and then tell people, "if you don't like it, you front the money"?

Like I said, slow suicide, driving away fans and drivers, making it harder and harder to get big shows.
 
Moonflow sadly you just proved with your last statement you haven't a clue about how much money and time goes into a track. They do have a mortgage, taxes and INSURANCE and that's just to start off with. All the work and prep is not just on race day if they race. Employees work during the week that have to be paid. Equipment that has to have fuel to run that they have used during the week to prep the track and grounds. And it's on going from there that is just the tip of the iceburg bud.
 
pevelyfan said:
Moonflow sadly you just proved with your last statement you haven't a clue about how much money and time goes into a track. They do have a mortgage, taxes and INSURANCE and that's just to start off with. All the work and prep is not just on race day if they race. Employees work during the week that have to be paid. Equipment that has to have fuel to run that they have used during the week to prep the track and grounds. And it's on going from there that is just the tip of the iceburg bud.
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Then enlighten us, since you know all the details. I want actual figures.
 
I would rather see a track error on the side of caution then take a chance and lose money. If the track has good racing the racers and fans will be back. The track lost money since they did not race but, they stood the chance of losing even more money if they would have raced and fans didn't show because there was a chance of rain. When people decide to go to a race nowadays they look at the weather and decide if they want to take the chance or not take a chance. If it looks like a good chance of rain fans today stay home because money is tight for most fans. If a promoter is looking at paying a sprint car purse and a late model purse your looking at between what 12,000 to 14,000 just for those 2 classes alone. You need a lot of butts in the stands to help offset the purse being paid out for that night. So lets give these promoters a break and be thankful they are willing to put their azzez on the line so, we can go and do what we love to do.
 
Racetracks lose alot on a rainout. First off the pay. How many times you seen a make up show not be made up because it either rains again or schedule problems. So you lose out having to pay for a nights worth of personnel in concessions all the way to rescue personnel. Thats not to mention the power bill for flipping the lights on all the way to the outrageous insurance costs just to say your a racetrack come race here! Its bad this year. With the weather playing havic to low stand attendence it will hurt. Just be glad we all have a pretty good choice still of places to go. If your current place makes you mad go somewhere else. There are choices.
 
moonflow said:
Then enlighten us, since you know all the details. I want actual figures.
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Really !!! lol
We all want to see your weekly paycheck stub and bank statements and insurance on house and car and car payment and electric and water and gas and sewage and weekly car gas bill and how much you spent at Mc Donalds each week and yea !!!!!
 
havoline28 said:
I would rather see a track error on the side of caution then take a chance and lose money. If the track has good racing the racers and fans will be back. The track lost money since they did not race but, they stood the chance of losing even more money if they would have raced and fans didn't show because there was a chance of rain. When people decide to go to a race nowadays they look at the weather and decide if they want to take the chance or not take a chance. If it looks like a good chance of rain fans today stay home because money is tight for most fans. If a promoter is looking at paying a sprint car purse and a late model purse your looking at between what 12,000 to 14,000 just for those 2 classes alone. You need a lot of butts in the stands to help offset the purse being paid out for that night. So lets give these promoters a break and be thankful they are willing to put their azzez on the line so, we can go and do what we love to do.
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Closer to $20,000 for just those two classes! $40 to $45,000 for the entire show! Very nice and sensible post!
 
don hoener said:
Closer to $20,000 for just those two classes! $40 to $45,000 for the entire show! Very nice and sensible post!
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Thanks, Don. You are one guy they should have respect for. You definitely went out on a limb here to keep Belle-Clair opened up for this year. If these guys remember the track almost did not even open up for the season. You are one of many promoters I'm talking about that stuck your azzez out on line to give these guys a place to race and you have to be smart on how you do business. What you don't need is someone coming on here and telling you promoters how to run your tracks when in fact they don't have a clue how things are done. Mother Nature is a beast of it's own and for some reason she is pissed this year lol. Keep up the good work.
 
dirtgirl said:
Really !!! lol
We all want to see your weekly paycheck stub and bank statements and insurance on house and car and car payment and electric and water and gas and sewage and weekly car gas bill and how much you spent at Mc Donalds each week and yea !!!!!
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LOL!!! love this!!!! LOL!!!
 
i don't know much about finance's and i'm not the sharpest pencil in the box but i'm not stupid either saturday was a bad call i am not going into any detail's about saturday but should have and could have raced but did not it's just that simple.
 
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